…but where would they live?
I have few regrets in life, only one haunts me still... My grandma was the most amazing woman I ever knew. She had many flaws, laughed rarely and was very skeptical of anything and anyone and yet, she was kind-hearted and full of love but what I remember most about her is her sense of... Continue Reading →
Today I had an egg-salad kind of day and no, I didn't have any egg-salad, nor do I want any. But before our first lecture today, my friend showed me this picture and much to my own joy, I was laughing tears. This wonderful family picture made me wonder after a prolonged heart-felt laughter, aren't... Continue Reading →
After four weeks in India, I can tell you one thing: there is such a thing as too much curry. Eating various types of curry for breakfast, lunch and dinner makes you eventually feel like you would give a kingdom for anything but curry. Eventually your clothes will start smelling like curry and so will... Continue Reading →
The last few weeks flew by like nothing. I can't believe that I am halfway through my India experience already and the worst I had to live through so far was general discomfort (you learn to love it, believe me!) and a severe cold with intense fever sweats last week. This, by the way, is my... Continue Reading →
Sometimes you get a great opportunity you didn't even know you wanted but once you realized it was there is nothing that could stop you. Two weeks ago I left the beautiful beaches of Greece to go to India. And although no fiber of me wanting to stay, I persevered. I embraced the unknown and made... Continue Reading →
Unbelievable sights Indescribable feeling Soaring, tumbling, freewheeling Through an endless diamond sky A whole new world - A whole new world, Disney's Aladdin You can hardly travel to India without thinking of Aladdin. That’s like going to the beach and not worrying about Jaws. Unthinkable. For me, movies like Aladdin did not want me to... Continue Reading →
Sounds, smells and a general discomfort. That’s probably the best way to describe my first 48 hours in India. No part of me wanted to leave Greece. Not even the smallest particle of my body. Having arrived in India after about 30 hours of traveling, sleeping at airports and being stuck in the middle seat... Continue Reading →
I am 28 years old, I am married, I have a regular day job, pay my bills on time. You could call me settled and I wouldn't be upset. I have a good support system in Norway, in the US and in Austria. I figured that would be enough, but truth to be told, there... Continue Reading →
I don't think romance always has to happen between a person and their partner. It can happen between two strangers somewhere in the middle of nowhere or between lifelong friends. It's just a moment, the moment doesn't mean anything other than what you make it to be. Before I go any further, just so there is... Continue Reading →
When A and I first moved to Norway, all I could think about was the opportunity to finally be together with A in the same country without having to say goodbye. Beyond that single most wonderful thought, being finally able to share my life with A, I never gave Norway a second thought. Norway looked... Continue Reading →
"To live will be an awfully big adventure" - J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan I always wanted to be just like Peter Pan, but instead of being the boy that never grew up I wanted to be the woman that forever would be a grown up. As I child I envied people that had a job and fulfilled... Continue Reading →
The last month or so has been a never ending roller coaster ride with many ups and downs. The ups definitely outweigh the downs and I can honestly say, I have never felt like this before in my life. I am, if you haven't noticed yet, a feminist, and I whole-heartily believe in equality. To me, equality... Continue Reading →
Vienna was calling so loud it's still ringing in my ears. Going home always comes with a special kind of anxiety paired with an unbearable amount of excitement. Needless to say I couldn't sleep for several nights before my departure. I was super early at the airport, I was not going to miss my flight... Continue Reading →
I am about to embark on a week long Vienna-trip, I am going home. I haven't been in Austria since 2012, before I started (and finished) my bachelor's degree, studied in Hong Kong, started my master's degree, got married, changed jobs and accomplished millions and millions of things that you can read up upon if... Continue Reading →
You might not think it possible but hamsters can easily get depressed. Usually it's something simple that triggers it, e.g. cleaning their cage and the hamster feeling like they're not in their home anymore. When a hamster is depressed, they will likely sit in a corner, facing the corner and sleeping while sitting up. I... Continue Reading →
As the seasons change, I cannot help but think, that the running season is not over yet. So far I ran about 425 km in the past year. For some people this is little (especially if you're my dad, I guess by now he probably ran twice around the world already). For other people this... Continue Reading →
It has been far too long since I've seen the deep blue, smelled the drying seaweed on shore and felt the cool wet on my hands. I didn't grow up at the sea, but my heart is where the ocean is. Now, don't get me wrong, Norway has plenty of the deep blue, but so... Continue Reading →
"What's in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet." - W. Shakespeare I am a feminist and I took my husband's last name. I don't see anything wrong with that. Me changing my last name doesn't make me less of a feminist. It doesn't compromise who... Continue Reading →
With this week to come I conclude another chapter in my life. It wasn't an easy decision, in fact it took me a whole year to follow through. But now, that the end is so near, I feel liberated. About a month ago I gave my one-month notice and will, with this Friday have my... Continue Reading →
As you might know by now, I just spend a few magical weeks in the Azores to volunteer at the Great Whale Project. My short time in the Azores was filled with so many ocean-related activities, it's impossible to count them all, but here is a brief overview: drink saltwater, get saltwater in your eyes,... Continue Reading →
As I raised my head out of the deep blue sea, I was gasping for air, I felt like no matter how hard I tried, there wasn't enough air coming through my lungs. I was surrounded by icy cold blue and desperately held on to a little white lifeline that was attached to a slowly... Continue Reading →
I admit it, openly and freely and with no regrets whatsoever: This summer I had a love affair. A magical one, one that changed my life forever. I didn't expect this to happen, but I wouldn't change it for the world. Once I realized what was happening, it was too late to stop and quite... Continue Reading →
Anyone who ever has been truly happy, knows that these precious moments can be gone in a heartbeat. In an instance everything you ever had hoped for can be gone and you will be left with picking up the pieces to your once so called life. But also, anyone who ever has been happy, knows... Continue Reading →
I am my mom's worst nightmare, in every way possible. I mean obviously I could have turned out way worse, than I actually have, and I do pride myself as a good daughter, but when it comes to life-choices, then yes, I am my mom's worst nightmare. I do things, that she would not do... Continue Reading →
I delivered my bachelor's thesis about three days ago and ever since I clicked the button that said "deliver" I had absolutely nothing, and I mean NOTHING, to do. I am literally losing my mind, not doing anything. That's not to say, that I sit around on my sofa in my comfy pants and stare... Continue Reading →
I do believe that we make our own luck. Don't get me wrong, I am a social scientist, I KNOW that some aspects of everyone's life are influenced by one's upbringing, social standing and personal background. But a small part (or not so small part) of me believes, that with determination, compassion and fill in... Continue Reading →
I tried to keep this blogpost light and airy and short, none of which I feel like I achieved, but this blogpost is also one that I have worked on for quite some time and now finally I feel like I reached a point where I'm comfortable with sharing it with you. I hope you... Continue Reading →
I'm a runner, not a fast one - quite possibly the slowest runner you have ever seen - but I am a runner. That's part of who I am. I am also a writer, a student, a hamster care-taker, a wife, a daughter, a sister. I am a dreamer, a Taurus, a dragon, a fearless... Continue Reading →
I know, having to convince yourself to exercise regularly is mentally challenging. If I could choose, I totally would spend all my days and weeks and months and years on my behind and not do anything all day, but unfortunately it just doesn't play well that way. So I have to use the force trying... Continue Reading →
There is no other way to say it, so I am just going to say it, the way I see it: Man, life is exhausting. Has it always been that busy? It seems as if it's not one thing, it's another, but mainly it's me juggling school and work and volunteering and exercising, and the... Continue Reading →
A and I are about to leave Hong Kong for good in a couple days, embarking on a new journey to Beijing and Lijiang before we will return to Oslo. But here are my final thoughts on what can only be described as the greatest 5 months of my life so far (minus the part... Continue Reading →
Today is day 110 of my 150 days in Hong Kong. And it has been quite interesting. Never thought, I'd be able to sweat this much without moving a muscle in my body. Also never thought I would use my SPF50 sunscreen until mid November. So far, I have observed a lot of strange behavior (from... Continue Reading →
Remember the plans you made when you were 17, sitting on your Hollywood swing on your front porch? (How many of you actually have done that? Well, not me, but I sat at my desk and thought about the future, same thing!) What job you were going to have, where you were going to live,... Continue Reading →
New York City is the Big Apple that never sleeps where everyone has sex with everyone (thank you SITC). Washington D.C. is where they make big decisions and obviously the best city to base half of the American action movies on. Las Vegas is the city of sins where when you visit you instantly have... Continue Reading →
Just a warning, this will be a long blog, you might want to get a cup of hot tea before you start reading! I won't include every detail of my trip, but I will give you a short (or not so short) overview of all the things that you can see in less than 72... Continue Reading →
There are different types of culture shock. There is the initial one, when you first arrive in a foreign place. There is a reverse one, when you return to your home country and lastly, there is the sudden one, that hits you in the face unexpectedly. The first type I experienced in Rome, only a... Continue Reading →
After last week's near death experience, this week I decided to take it easy and do an easy hike. Little did I know that easy is not always easy. So the task for that day was climbing the LION ROCK. It is a symbol of pride in Hong Kong and visible from almost anywhere in... Continue Reading →
My dad always says that sometimes you will discover signs that tell you what to do. He also says, that if there are three obvious signs, that you shouldn't do something, listen to it, more often than not, you will discover that something or someone is trying to tell you something. My dad is not... Continue Reading →
I am 26, originally from Austria. I married my best friend from Pennsylvania in Italy. We moved to Norway three years ago and now I study abroad in Hong Kong. That is my story in three sentences. With this you already know a whole lot about me, without ever having met me. You for instance... Continue Reading →
My dad always says, he doesn't need a picture to proof that he has been some place. But my dad is generally shy of the camera. Whenever he sees any type of camera approaching him, he would disappear instantly. Let me tell you, skyping this way, is not a lot of fun. My mom, my... Continue Reading →
This is a letter to all the little people that one day will become women. Growing up slowly dawns on you. It is a gradual process that doesn't happen over night. Mostly you notice that you are growing up not by how you react to the world, but how the world reacts to you. The... Continue Reading →
Alright, so I don't know how you got through college, but me? I always worked full time while studying, staying up long nights and getting up super early to study before and after work. Trying to exercise enough not to go stir crazy and most of all with a lot of chocolate. I am doing... Continue Reading →
A silverback fears that his territory is in jeopardy when faced with other testosterone ridden males. He intimidates others and he knows he would win every battle, because he is the king of the jungle, the one that rules them all, no doubt in his mind. He is surrounded by glass, googly eyes staring at... Continue Reading →
Have you ever found yourself knee deep buried in your work and wondering how you ever got so far into it? When you feel like you eat, breath and sleep work and you don't see the end of it all the while loving every moment of it? Every time you accomplish a big goal, you... Continue Reading →
My grandma spoke not a lick of English, and although she didn't understand the lyrics to it, one of her all time favorite songs was the song Stand by me, and I don't mean the original 1961 version, but the 90ies version by a Chicago-band called 4 the cause. I remember one time, when my dad... Continue Reading →
As I was sitting outside a cafe in the early May-days of this past month, I was amazed by how much you can see, when you actually are looking. I was sipping my cafe latte, basking in the early morning sun, wearing my sun glasses and just loving life. On the table next to me,... Continue Reading →
I once flew an airplane. No, seriously. I did. About three years ago, for my 23rd birthday in Vienna. My uncle is a hobby-pilot and he invited me along as a birthday surprise and I, being a somewhat-daredevil, happily agreed. After all, how often do you get to fly an airplane? Not often, I suppose,... Continue Reading →
Tempt not a desperate man. - W. Shakespeare I think the worst part about being human is, recognizing when you cannot help. The moment, when you realize that you are helpless and you have to give up, even if every fiber in body is working against that notion. The moment, you have to just let... Continue Reading →
My heart is heavy, it has been for quite some time. Almost to the extend where it is getting hard to breathe. Every morning I wake with that painful ache in my heart and I know that what ever I want to do, ultimately there is nothing I can do about it. Sometimes you feel... Continue Reading →
The new year is two days old and I bet most of the resolutions the majority of us made are already broken. You know, things like "Don't eat too many sweets. Exercise more. Loose weight. Quit smoking." All the good ones, that we so quickly promise to hold and yet even quicker throw over board.... Continue Reading →
A bird loves a fish 